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1881 



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THE GIOVANNI 






[Copyrighted Jan. 31, 1889, by Edith Guerriek.] 



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Down by the sea stole melancholy, 

By the peaceful, moonlit sea, — 
The sea like a salver, darkly fringed 

With Northern arrowy tree. 

Low as the water's murmurous plaint. 

Her song its theme pursued, — 
Like the psalm of the sea-shell, far and faint, 

Breathed on the quietude. 

Never a strain so fraught with spell, 
At once both grieved and glad, — 

For the ended trust a tender knell, 
A chant for the new hope had. 



A bark lay beat by the surging brine. 
On Cape Cod's sand-ribbed shore, 

Laden with fruits and nuts and wine, 
From fair Palermo's store. 

Like a bride, at morn, all beauteous dressed, 

Graced by the roseate glow : 
Now spectral she, — beguiled, possessed, 

Blanched by the boreal snow. 

On the " outer edge of the inner bar, 
Four hundred yards from land," — 

So ran the news ; not thought so far 
But help might still be planned. 



Aid for the ship there none could be, — 

'Twas but for souls to try ; 
And now the life-boats put to sea, 

And bombs with cordage i\y. 

Ah, vain ! in vain a rope to guide, 

The messengers fall short : 
The boats, by the awful swirl defied, 

Come driving back to port. 

Each lurch of the vessel thins the crew, 
O'erflowed by the ravening deep : — 

Oh, God ! with the drear night-shades in view, 
'Twas mercy so to sleep. 



You have kissed your lover away, 
You have kissed your lover away, 
You have kissed your lover awhile from thee : — 
Oh, think of the mariner out at sea ! 

You have mourned your lover away, 
You have mourned your lover away. 
You have mourned your lover one night from thee 
Oh, think of the vigils for him at sea ! 

You have kissed your lover away, 
You have kissed your lover away. 
You have kissed your lover come back to thee : — 
Oh, think of the mariner lost at sea! 



Brave in the morning 
Rolls the great ocean, — 
Huge, glassy billows 
Break on the strand. 

Vexed with no fainting, 
Nothing lamenting, 
Blind to compunction, 
The deep drives along. 

Linked to no weakness, 
Crowned with completeness, 
Thunders triumphant 
The sea's trumpet-song. 



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